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83

Gaming Nexus

If you enjoyed playing through HR, TML is a must-have. Fans of the main game will find more of the same in the new chapter. unfortunately, you could also consider this a bit of a detriment to the experience because it is basically more of the same. Fans, such as myself, will consider this a good thing but those looking for an advancement to the HR formula will likely walk away a bit disappointed. Either way, TML is a solid offering that packs quite a bit of content into the package for a decent price.

It’s great to have an opportunity to revisit Deus Ex: Human Revolution, and The Missing Link is a substantial, tense and exciting piece of downloadable content that’s far more than just filler. It presents a stiff challenge and a great sub-plot alongside the opportunity to experiment with a different playstyle, branching out from what you may have done before. The repetition and the rather light runtime prevent it from being an essential purchase, but there’s still a lot to love here, especially for experienced players.

Missing Link does shed some light on the final battle in the main game and hints at the importance of the research being done in the game (saying any more than that would be a spoiler). All told, though, the content was clearly removed from the main game for a reason and, especially at 1200msp/$14.99, should have stayed there. It just doesn’t hold up to the core Deus Ex: Human Revolution experience. Between very stilted voice acting from some guards and weird graphical glitches, like a gun free floating in a character’s hand during a conversation, Missing Link feels like it was polished up for release just to make a quick buck. It’s a shame, especially given how wonderful the core game was. This is certainly one instance where length of included content doesn’t justify the price tag.

For 1200 MS points (£8.99 on PS3 and PC), you'll also get 10 new achievements/trophies, which could help persuade somebody into parting with their coin. It's a steep price though, considering the five hours of content you get. It would be easier to recommend The Missing Link if it didn't feel so disjointed. Nothing that happens, both in terms of plot or augmentations, has any bearing on what follows. Those that have finished Human Revolution will simply be grateful for more Deus Ex, but taken out of the context of the main game, with its hub worlds, huge cast of characters and grandiose conspiracy, it doesn't offer enough to be considered an essential add-on.

But, elsewhere, The Missing Link feels routine, uninspired. There's no grand hook to the episode, leaving one with the feeling that it's here to plug a narrative gap in the main game rather than justify its presence on its own merits. The opportunity to revisit Human Revolution is a welcome one, but this is a competent expansion rather than an unmissable one.